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Personal info

Full name
SHERMAN, Jefferson Jr
Date of birth
10 July 1915
Age
29
Place of birth
Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas
Hometown
Independence, Jefferson County, Arkansas

Military service

Service number
O1296921
Rank
Captain
Function
unknown
Unit
309th Infantry Regiment,
78th Infantry Division
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
16 December 1944
Place of death
Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
F 6 16

Immediate family

Members
Jefferson Sherman (father)
Ada Sherman (mother)
Eugene H. Sherman (brother)
Edwin T. Sherman (brother)

More information

Capt Jefferson Sherman was the head football coach at the Pine Bluff High School.

He joined the U.S. Army in July 1941 and trained at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri before entering Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. After receiving his commission he was stationed at Camp Pickett, Virginia.

He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously for meritorious achievement in action on 13 December 1944. When one platoon of his company was cut off, Capt (at that moment Lieutenant) Sherman led the remaining three in capturing a German town and holding it against superior German forces until reinforcements arrived.

His brother, Cpl Edwin Sherman was reported wounded in action in Germany on the same day that Capt Sherman was reported missing.

A third and eldest brother, Second Class Seaman Eugene Sherman served with the navy.

Both pictures are extracts from the High School Yearbook of 1941.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Northwest Arkansas Times / Family Trees, www.newspapers.com - The Courier News - 4 January 1945

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Pine BLuff High School Yearbook 1941